Reinforcing means for concrete structures



Aug. 23, 1938.

R. V. WARD REINFOROING MEANS FOR CONCRETE STRUCTURES Filed July 15, 1936 \l r r .4 3 H I a g Ft [L c I 5/- J J J "1 INVENTOR.

Patented Au 23, 1938 UNITED STATES REINFORCING MEANS FOR CONCRETE STRUCTURES Royal V. Ward, Upland, Calif. Application July 13, 1936, Serial No. 90,394

3 Claims.

This invention relates to and has for an object thereof the provision of means for clamping and holding the reinforcing bars of concrete structures in such a manner as to form between the bars and the concrete a bond which will be superior in point of fullness, uniformity and strength.

Another object is to provide a clamp of the character described which is adapted for splicing or joining reinforcing bars in such a manner that the overlapped ends thereof will be uniformly spaced apart and thereby form a full bond between the bars and the concrete at said joints.

A further object of the invention is to provide clamping means by which reinforcing bars of square cross section may be held in diagonal positions, with the edges thereof in horizontal planes and their fiat sides inclined to said planes, whereby to prevent undesirable accumulation of concrete on the upper surfaces of said bars during the pouring of the concrete, to eliminate at joints or splices the horizontal intermediate and hidden or lower surfaces which are sometimes not reached by the concrete where the bars are held with their flat sides in horizontal planes, and to present for ready and intimate contact with the concrete the entire area or surfaces of said bars.

An additional object is to provide means which, in supporting the square bars in the aforesaid edgewise position, will increase the reinforcing properties thereof-particularly in circular reservoir walls where the exposed surface of the bars is increased to a great extent above that pro vided where the bars are mounted flatwise.

Other objects may appear in the description of my device hereinafter following.

I have shown a preferred form of device embodying my improvements in the accompanying drawing, subject to modification, with the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit thereof.

In said drawing:

Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of a reinforcing bar structure as set up with the clamping and holding means of this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the plane of line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on the plane of line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

One embodiment of the invention as shown in detail in the accompanying drawing comprises a clamp A consisting of complementary clamping plates I having abutting portions 2 between their ends, and angular jaws 3 at their ends. Each jaw has right angularly disposed rod engaging forces. One plate is provided with bendable ears 4 adapted to be extended through apertures 5 in the other plate, then bent back to secure the plates together with the jaws in clamping position. However, any suitable means may be employed for this purpose inasmuch as the main function of this clamp is to secure together or splice reinforcing bars B and C in such a manner that the overlapped ends will be uniformly and definitely spaced apart. This will provide a full and strong bond between the concrete and said bars due to the fact that such spacing fully exposes the surfaces of the bars for a ready and intimate contact with the concrete.

It is of equal importance that the clamp is designed to hold bars of square cross section with their edges in horizontal planes and their flat sides inclined to such planes, the angular jaws 3 as particularly shown in Fig. 2 providing for such disposition of the bars. The aforesaid angular or edgewise disposition of the bars, together with the spacing thereof at the splice or joints, provide the advantages of preventing undesirable mortar accumulation on the upper surfaces during the pouring of the concrete and assuring the formation of a full and strong bond between the bars and the concrete at the joints, and to also increase the reinforcing effect of the bars. Inasmuch as the edges are presented uppermost and the flat sides are inclined it is seen that the concrete will slide freely past said bars during the pouring process. This edgewise position also prevents the formation at the joints or splices of horizontal intermediate and hidden or lower surfaces which would sometimes fail to contact the concrete in instances of flatwise installation of the bars. Moreover, the aforesaid edgewise disposition of the bars is particularly advantageous in circular reservoir walls inasmuch as the exposed surfaces of the bars enclosing and supporting the inside or fluid side of the concrete is greatly increased as against the surface provided with a flatwise disposition of said bars.

While as here shown I have provided two clamps A for the splice of Fig. 1, I may use one or more than two clamps.

Operating conjunctively with the clamps A are auxiliary clamps D which are engaged with the upright reinforcing bars E and bars B and C to aid in holding the latter in the diagonal or edgewise positions. Each of the clamps D comprises a single piece of metal bent to form a U shaped body I and spaced extensions 8 having V shaped notches 9 therein. The body portion 1 is adapted to embrace the upright bars E as particularly shown in Fig. 3, and the extensions 8 are disposed to engage the horizontal bars B as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the bars B and C fitting into the notches 9 as shown in Fig. 2.

It will now be apparent that the clamps D will hold the bars B and C in the desired edgewise position throughout the reinforcing bar structure and also strengthen such structure.

Attention is called to the fact that the means of this invention not only provides for the concrete flowing completely around and making an intimate contact with the reinforcing bars whereby to provide a superior bond at the splices or joints, but will strengthen the reinforcing structure and increase the efiectiveness thereof in reinforced concrete constructions.

By the terms square cross section or square bars I mean to include all bars of angular and rectilinear cross section or wherein the bars have flat sides and definite or narrow edges or ridges. It should be noted that the reference tothe disposition of the edges of the bars in horizontal planes is meant to include planes nearer to the horizontal than to the vertical, as when bars are inclined. In fact, the invention contemplates holding the square bars with edges in the uppermost plane of the bars.

What I claim, is:

1. A clamp for reinforcing bars, comprising opposed plates, portions between the ends of said plates adapted to engage one another, opposed laws at the outer ends of said plates, and means for securing said plates together, said jaws having substantially identical right angularly disposed bar engaging faces arranged to hold bars of square cross section in superposed overlapped relation with their edges in horizontal planes and their fiat faces inclined to said planes.

2. In reinforcing means for concrete structures, reinforcing bars of square cross section, means for joining said bars and holding end portions thereof in overlapped and spaced relation to one another with the edges of said bars in horizontal planes and the flat faces of the bars inclined to said planes, other bars perpendicular to the first named bars, and members inter-engaged with said first and second named bars and having V-shaped portions for receiving and holding the first named bars in said edgewise position.

3. In reinforcing means for concrete structures, reinforcing bars having flat faces and narrow edges, means for holding said bars with the edges thereof in horizontal planes and the fiat sides in clined to said planes, and other bars perpendicular to the first named bars and holding members having V-shaped portions for reception of said first named bars and U-shaped portions for reception of said second named bars.

ROYAL V. WARD. 

